120V smoke detector compatibility

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mdshunk

mdshunk

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Has anyone complied or come across a list of compatible 120V hardwired interconnected smoke detectors? This is becoming more and more of an issue nowadays, as detectors begin to age and customers may want options besides 'replace all the hardwired interconnected smokes', when one has failed. Certain models of some brands are compatible, but not all models within some brands are compatible with each other. It's a real mess, in that regard.
 
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A check of instructions sheets from 3 different smoke alarm manufacturers reveals that they are designed to interconnect only with the same make and type.

In reading the fine print, you might be able to determine which brands from the same maunfacturer are compatible. Such as:

BRK and First Alert are essentially the same thing.

Maple Chase and Firex are the same.

Fyrenetics and Kidde are the same.


Interconnection between makes may be possible, but are not listed for such, so you have to deal with 110.3(B) on this issue. :D
 
kbsparky said:
BRK and First Alert are essentially the same thing.

Maple Chase and Firex are the same.

Fyrenetics and Kidde are the same.
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Yes, this is the sort of thing I'm talking about. In the instance of Kidde, for example, not all legacy models are compatible with today's Kidde detectors. I can get whatever brand, but getting a brand that is compatible with a legacy model of the same brand is sometimes a problem.
 
Some smokes have a compatibility number on the detector, others have interconnecting instructions that give you the number that may be connected, and the model numbers of the ones that may be connected on the same interconnect circuit. And most all manufactures warn not to connect to any other TYPE or MODEL smoke alarm.

IMO, smokes are not the thing to cheap out on, when were talking life safety, there is only one way in my book, replace every alarm on the interconnection.
 
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There is no published standard on interconnection to which smoke detectors have to adhere, so each manufacturer does what they consider appropriate, and as long as their individual scheme can be demonstrated to work to the listing guys, then they get the big tick in the box.

They have no self-interest in working together on the issue, as they make more money be selling a complete set of replacement detectors, and as its a commodity marketplace item, the churn will benefit all manufacturers. There is probably even planned obsolescence in the things. So unless they are forced to do something standardized, they wont.

Now is is, of course, entirely possible than some manufacturers came up with had the same way to do the interlink independently, and with some test gear you could confirm its "compatible", but hey, if it goes wrong, then the manufacturers will burn you in court.
 
satcom said:
IMO, smokes are not the thing to cheap out on, when were talking life safety, there is only one way in my book, replace every alarm on the interconnection.
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True, but if its someone else's nickel, you don't always get to make that choice.

satcom said:
Some smokes have a compatibility number on the detector, others have interconnecting instructions that give you the number that may be connected, and the model numbers of the ones that may be connected on the same interconnect circuit.
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Understood. I was just wondering if anyone has bothered to compile such charts all on one place?
 
mdshunk said:
I was just wondering if anyone has bothered to compile such charts all on one place?
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Probably not any of the manufacturers, just like breaker panels and breakers. Maybe we need classified smoke detectors.
 
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